The Foothills Focus Anthem 01-25-2023

This Week

North Phoenix woman shares Celine Dion’s agony

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

When singer Celine Dion was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, Melissa Meyer was sad but relieved.

The North Phoenix resident said she didn’t feel so alone. Meyer and Dion suffer from the syndrome, a rare, progressive neurological disorder. Symptoms may include stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs; and greater sensitivity to noise, touch and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms.

“I had mixed emotions,” she said. “I felt really sad for her. In her video, it seemed like she had so much emotion and hope. I remembered what it was like to be there. There’s just so much unknown about it because it’s rare.”

Stiff person syndrome affects twice as many women as men, and is frequently associated with other autoimmune diseases such as type-I diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo and pernicious anemia. Scientists don’t yet understand what causes stiff person syndrome, but research indicates that it is the result of an autoimmune response gone awry in the brain and spinal cord.

Stiff person syndrome is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, psychosomatic illness, or anxiety and phobia. A definitive diagnosis can be made with a blood test that measures the level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies.

“I burst into tears when I heard the news about Celine Dion and SPS,” said

see AGONY page 4

Phoenix moves toward tougher water use regulations

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Phoenix City Council on Jan. 18 directed city staff to begin developing tougher water conservation requirements for new developments.

Those requirements could include higher standards for pools as well as separate meters for them and all outside

water use, a requirement that large consumers recycle at least 30% of their water on-site requirements for more detail on conservation plans in zoning applications.

But Councilmember Laura Pastor also urged city staff to begin working on more rigorous conservation requirements for existing water users, stating, “We’re in a

bigger crisis than what we think we are.

“I also want to look at current development … and what industries we would like to attract that don’t require a lot of water usage,” she said.

Councilmember Debra Stark agreed, telling Water Services and city planning

see WATER page 6

Serving the communities of Anthem, Desert Hills, Norterra, Sonoran Foothills, Stetson Valley, Tramonto, New River, Desert Ridge and North Phoenix

Melissa Meyer was diagnosed in July 2020 with stiff person syndrome, a rare, progressive neurological disorder. (Submitted)

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Dr. Tara Zier, founder/chief executive officer of The Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation and SPS patient.

“I had heard she was struggling to find a diagnosis, but I hoped it would not be SPS. We actually reached out to her on Instagram one month ago to offer resources, because her symptoms sounded all too familiar. For me, it’s a mix of shock and really deep empathy. Listening to her talking about her kids supporting her, empathizing with how lonely it can feel and how hard it is when you can’t participate in what you love doing really resonates with me.”

Zier said she is moved by Dion’s positivity.

“When you’re facing an incurable disease, it can feel hopeless. But Celine will give thousands of patients hope. Maybe now people will take the disease seriously. Part of the reason the average time to diagnosis is an agonizing seven years is that stiff person syndrome has a ridiculous name. But it is a debilitating disease. People aren’t just stiff. It impacts vocal cords. Breathing. Walking. Going out in public. It’s impacting Celine’s life and every patient who suffers from SPS can relate to that.”

Meyer can recall symptoms as far back as her 20s. On her father’s 60th birthday, the family traveled to Vegas. While she was there, her legs felt heavy and stiff. She couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her.

Meyer was diagnosed three years ago, on Dec. 23, 2019, after she started feeling weak. She regularly carried 4 gallons of water upstairs without issue. Eventually, she had to bear hug 1 gallon.

“I was in a doctorate program. I was stressed and tired,” she said. “I had some joint pain. I just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t pinpoint what was going on. I saw a neurologist and he said, ‘I don’t know why you’re in my office.’”

In her late thirties at the time, she saw a rheumatologist and he chalked the symptoms up to aging.

“I was ready to give up, which isn’t uncommon for people with stiff person,” she said. “You start to wonder if the symptoms are actually happening.”

As a student, she met someone during an internship who referred her to a neurologist. He ordered lab work and, after three months, she had her troubling diagnosis.

Meyer called the last three years a “bit of a journey.” Meyer, who works as a psychiatric nurse practitioner for children, has fleeting excruciating muscle spasms, while others have rigid muscles, broken bones due to falls or dislocations, or are bedridden.

“The spasms are in my core,” she said. “Sometimes they’re in my limbs. I have the random eye twitch

that likes to happen in the middle of telemed sessions. The weakness has returned.

“It’s so difficult. My worst flare up was a couple months after the initial diagnosis, in June 2020, right around the height of COVID. It was the most excruciating pain. It felt like someone was grabbing my core and crushing as tight as they could. It lasted 14 hours.”

Several symptoms improve with oral diazepam (an anti-anxiety and muscle relaxant drug) or with medication that alleviate muscle spasms, such as baclofen or gabapentin.

A study funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) showed that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment is effective in reducing stiffness, sensitivity to noise, touch, and stress and for improving gait and balance for people with SPS. IVIg contains immunoglobulins (natural antibodies produced by the immune system) derived from thousands of healthy donors.

Meyer is undergoing subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy. She also kickboxes three times a week.

“Balance is a big issue with stiff person syndrome,” she said. “I’m very careful. I can’t do heavy weights or else I can cause a flare up. I had physical therapy, but I had a flare up right after. I’m too nervous to go back. The kickboxing is working well for me.”

Psychologically, stiff person syndrome can be hard.

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“It’s tough for people who don’t get diagnosed for a long time,” said the 43-year-old former Scottsdale resident. “You really do start to wonder where the symptoms are coming from. I see a counselor, who helped me accept the diagnosis for what it is. I never know what tomorrow is going to look like and that’s OK.

“I’m controlling what I can and accepting what I can.”

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staffers, “I think maybe as you go through the process, if you could just give us a quarterly report on what you’re doing with your recommendation so we know what’s going on in new development, but then maybe regroup and discuss about what we can do for existing development because I agree that’s critical and I know we’re all under the gun and I know you guys probably feel it more than us.”

The hearing that followed an earlier memo to the council from Deputy City Managers Karen Peters and Alan Stephenson as well as the Water Services and Planning and Development departments, officials stressed that Phoenix “can no longer depend on receiving its full allocation from the Colorado River” and that “a supply sufficiency is likely in the future.”

“To adapt to a challenge of this magnitude, the City will have to embrace its heritage of water-problem solving,” they wrote. “Only by adopt-

ing institutional water conservation policies will the City be able to maintain a pattern of sustainable growth and efficient water use.”

During the hearing, city Water Conservation Coordinator Maxwell Wilson said the city is already looking to further strengthen conservation measures already in place for all users.

He explained that single-family homes comprise the single largest group of water consumers in Phoenix and that water outside homes represents a third to a half of all water they use.

He said the city is already running programs aimed at encouraging voluntary water conservation and that one includes working directly with landscapers.

Wilson also said the city is working with homeowners to encourage replacing grass with turf, although Pastor expressed concern about those recommendations, noting some types of turf actually consume more water than natural grass.

The policy document describing those measures said future zoning cases will be expected to “address best practices related to water use” that will be “evaluated for appropriateness on a case-by-case basis.”

Those practices could include a requirement for water-efficiency certifications, drought-tolerant landscaping, restrictions on the use of turf, green infrastructure and low-impact development for surface parking, streets and sidewalks, preservation of open space, enhanced swimming pool standards that would include their size and location as well as separate meters for all outdoor water use, and even a project’s impact on water rates.

Those factors would be balanced against “whether the project is a key industry identified as significantly beneficial to the city’s economy.”

“Based on these evaluations, the City may determine the project is incompatible with available water resources, consistency with planning documents or an insufficient eco -

nomic benefit to warrant the large water use,” the memo states.

The memo does not indicate a timetable for adoption of the standards, which were to be discussed this week by city council. However, the fact that a draft ordinance already has been submitted indicates their adoption is imminent, although they still must be aired at a public hearing.

The new standards also would require city planners to give an “increased level of scrutiny” to developers’ requests for annexation of land outside the Water Services Department’s service area that they want included in their project.

The proposed guidelines say such requests “should be discouraged to ensure that water resources are focused on areas within the current service area.”

The 30% recycling requirement would apply to any residential, commercial or industrial development that consumes at least 500,000 gal-

see WATER page 7

Walmart, Anthem Rotary donate $35K in youth clothing

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Anthem Rotary Club and the Walmart Anthem Supercenter donated new clothing valued at more than $35,000 to economically disadvantaged students in local area school districts.

In early January, Walmart Anthem had hundreds of extra, new clothing items in its inventory. The store management wanted to donate it to Anthem-area charitable causes. Through its strong relationship with Anthem Rotary Club, and knowing the club could

Abrazo brings

quickly and efficiently execute such a large project, Walmart asked Anthem Rotary for assistance.

Anthem Rotary volunteers collected a large number of bins, filled with new clothes from Walmart. Rain Main Roofing & Waterproofing Services donated a large portion of its Anthem warehouse space for the storage, sorting and packing project.

Anthem Rotary members called their contacts at Deer Valley Unified School District and Mayer School District and asked if there were economically disadvantaged students who could benefit

‘Ask-A-Doc’ to YMCA

from new clothing items. The answer from both school districts was “yes, please” and “thank you.”

Quickly, Anthem Rotary members sprung to action. More than 20 club members volunteered their time, a total of more than 60 hours, to manage the project. Members unboxed the unsorted clothing items and then sorted, labeled, reboxed, and prepared the clothing over two days. The members then delivered the sorted boxes of clothes to the area schools. From that point, the designated staff members at each school were responsible for

WATER from page 6

lons of water a day. That recycled water would have to be used either on the site or directed to a specific project identified by the developer.

The memo also details what the city has already done over the years to ensure an adequate water supply as well as its conservation measures.

determining how the disadvantaged students would select and receive the items of their choice.

“This kind of charitable project is what Anthem Rotary does so well,” said Steve DeMar, president of Anthem Rotary Club. “When there is a need in our local community, our members are there to offer their generous support. We were thrilled to collaborate with Walmart to help needy children in our area.”

More details of the club’s Clothing for Youth in Need project can be found at Anthem Rotary’s Facebook page.

nificant progress in demand management and conservation” that date back to 1980.

As a result, it says, per-person water use has fallen by 30% over the last 30 years while demand since 2000 has fallen by more than 19,000 acre-feet.

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is marking American Heart Month by presenting an Ask-A-Cardiologist event at Desert Foothills Family YMCA. The public is invited to hear Abrazo physicians talk about heart disease risks, prevention and treatment from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 34250 N. 60th Street.

February is American Heart Month, and cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States. The fact that the majority of Americans don’t consider themselves at risk for heart disease is why educating the community on the importance of heart health is so important.

Smoking, poor diet, high stress, obesi-

ty, diabetes and a sedentary lifestyle are all things that can contribute to heart disease. Left unchecked, it can lead to a wide array of serious and life-threatening health complications, including heart failure, heart attack, stroke and death.

Scheduled speakers for the free Feb. 15 event include Abrazo Health cardiologists Dr. Christian Lopez and Dr. William Jaffe.

Ask-A-Cardiologist presented by Abrazo Health

WHEN: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15

WHERE: Desert Foothills Family YMCA, 34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale COST: Free; registration required INFO: abrazohealth.com/events.

Most recently, the city voluntarily agreed to forego 30,000 acre-feet — roughly a year’s supply of water for three households — and is completing a “drought pipeline to more efficiently transport water to those parts of the city that rely on Colorado River water.” About 40% of Phoenix’s overall water supply comes from the Colorado River.

Stressing supply “is only one side of the equation,” the memo said that for decades Phoenix “has made sig-

The city also has adopted 12 new conservation programs with a goal of reducing per-person water use to 155 gallons a day by 2030.

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Decluttering can provide joy

BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

There is nothing quite like stormy weather to get us in a tidying up mood. January is the perfect time to declutter! Out with all the “stuff” we never use, wear or even like. Marie Kondo is a Japanese decluttering guru whose “tidying up” book and teachings are supposed to show us the way to a neater and more joyful life. The KonMari method, as it is called, is the roadmap to positive change through organizing and letting go of the “stuff” you

no longer need. Easier said than done.

The first step in decluttering is to go by category and not a room. I thought I would start with clothes. And before I went through mine, I noticed quite a few things in my husband Doug’s closet that he hadn’t worn in a while. I do recall Kondo saying work on your own belongings first, but I asked Doug if I might “help” him sort through his clothes.

“Sure,” he yelled while watching a football game. As I asked him about various old shirts and pants, suggesting that I donate them to charity, he seemed

annoyed. Then I noticed a particularly worn and faded denim jacket and asked if he still wanted it. No response. Next, I asked the “golden Kondo question,” which is, “Does this item spark joy in you?” Doug just stared at me like I had two heads and said, “It’s just a jacket!” No touchdown.

OK. Lesson No. 1. When you are tidying up, start on your own side of the closet. Which is what I did next. I found clothes I hadn’t worn in a few years, some things I had forgotten about and shoes that I am still wondering what possessed me to buy. Psychologists

have claimed that if you want to know who you are, just look in your closet.

see BLUHM page 11

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

History recalls the brutal reign of a father and son in the impoverished island nation of Haiti. Francois Duvalier (“Papa Doc”), a physician educated in the United States, was initially elected president in 1957, but soon proved to be more of a despot than a doctor. With the aid of an undercover death squad, he eliminated opponents and consolidated power, naming himself “president for life” in 1964.

Upon Papa Doc’s death in 1971, son Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed “Baby Doc,” became president and ruled in the same repressive fashion until he was overthrown in 1986.

Current events in this country have prompted some observers to apply those historical Haitian nicknames to America’s first family. Joe “Papa Doc” and Hunter “Baby Doc” Biden have not earned those monikers because of medical training; instead, they have acquired them for their suspected illegal mishandling of classified documents.

Sadly, but predictably, Ol’ Joe and his legal team — attorneys both inside and outside government — are writing a narrative on the fly, counting on the continued indulgence of the left and the press (pardon the redundancy) to help both Papa and Baby Biden skate.

But what worked so well two years ago in the heat of a presidential campaign may not yield the same results in the wake of the recent midterm elections.

Now, it appears that key elements of the Democrat base have decided to pursue a new pre-2024 policy and personnel imperative. Simply stated, they want to prove to the cognitively impaired octogenarian they labored to install as the 46th president that this is no country for old men.

What prompted this progressive call to action?

Joe Biden’s loud and repeated outbursts that he would be more than happy to continue wandering off, eat-

ing ice cream and mumbling incoherently as the “leader of the free world” for a second term.

Make no mistake, this decision has nothing to do with principle… and everything to do with politics.

After successfully using COVID-19 as the crisis for “reform” in elections nationwide, the left is no longer confident that it can muster more votes than registered voters, as was done by the Dems in 2020.

In other words, the Democrats have determined that they can’t entirely depend on an outcome that uses mailboxes and drop boxes as de facto ballot boxes, especially not with Joe Biden atop the ticket.

They no longer feel comfortable mailing it in, and their reasons are both sound and several, as the policy performance of the Biden Bunch has proven pathetic.

If you’re scoring at home — or considering for whom to vote in 2024 — it is painfully obvious that “America last” only excites indoctrinated Gen Z’ers, the culture-canceling comatose misnamed as “woke,” and brain-addled ’60s radicals who have grown fat, happy and nostalgic for the old-fashioned nation loathing that is so intrinsic to their collective self-image.

Misfits, malcontents and miscreants do not a majority make, nor a winning margin that can be easily rigged through further “reform.”

So for the Dems, the decision is sim-

ple: help Ol’ Joe reach the conclusion that he can have even more ice cream — and enjoy longer naps — as a former president.

Most assuredly, that decision is not unanimous, nor can its implementation thus far be described as deft. But again, through the collective lens of the left, it has been handled with the proper “chronological considerations.”

According to the timeline, CBS News confirmed on Jan. 10 that the U.S. attorney in Chicago was directed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to review documents marked classified and discovered in the office of the Penn Biden Center in Washington, “according to two sources with knowledge of the inquiry.”

White House attorney Richard Sauber then went on the record, confirming that the classified materials were “identified by attorneys for Mr. Biden on Nov. 2,” no doubt prompting a giant sigh of collective relief in from the Dems, who quickly noted that the news had been suppressed for two months — and especially for the six crucial days before the midterm elections, no doubt limiting Democrat losses in the House and Senate.

More disturbing revelations followed. Most notoriously, more classified documents were found at Joe Biden’s Delaware home, in the garage behind Joe’s prized 1967 Corvette; Hunter Biden paid almost 50,000 bucks in monthly rent to his Pop, while living at that same Delaware residence from March 2017 to February 2018; and Chinese communists were paying big money to Hunter, while donating the same type of big bucks to the Penn Biden Center.

How bad is it for the Bidens? Bad enough to have Dem “pitbull” attorney Andrew Weissmann accuse Ol’ Joe of a cover-up and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) suggested that our national security was jeopardized — echoing his accusation against President Trump.

Bad enough for “Papa Doc” and “Baby Doc” Biden to yearn for a Haitian vacation.

Heartbreaking tragedy, heartwarming response

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

Sometimes buried in the most heartbreaking tales we discover a glimmer of hope. It is one good reason to read the news, even now, when so much that makes headlines involves the worst of us doing the worst things.

The goodness of people still exists. It surfaces at unexpected moments, especially when the unimaginable happens. Like the deaths of three Chandler residents, 49-year-old Narayana Muddana; his wife Haritha, age 36; and family friend, husband and father of one, 47-year-old Gokul Mediseti.

The trio died Dec. 26, according to police, when they fell through the ice at Woods Canyon Lake outside Payson. The story of their winter picnic gone wrong has resided in the pit of my stomach for three weeks –especially the knowledge that among the witnesses were the Muddanas’ two daughters, ages 11 and 7, as well as Gokul’s wife

and child.

I’ve been to that lake. It’s idyllic, a perfect place to spend a cold holiday afternoon, a spot for pictures, laughter and making memories. But imagining the sound of cracking ice and the screams –it’s something I can’t shake.

Moments after the three plunged in, a woman and two children on shore waded in to attempt a rescue. They failed, but made it out of the 30-degree water alive.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and fire fighters responded. They pulled out Haritha, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Rescue divers located the two fathers the next day.

“You never get used to it. Especially when you’re dealing with the children,” John Paxton with the Sheriff’s Office told ABC15. “We wanted to make sure they felt as safe as possible. Tried to keep them warm and away from the scene as best we could.”

The Arizona Department of Child Safety came to the lake that night and took

custody of the Muddanna girls, suddenly orphaned. The children have traveled back to India to live with their grandparents.

The story would be a tragedy start to finish, save for the astonishing generosity that has followed. It comes courtesy of the 12,700 donors who chipped in to a GoFundMe campaign started the day after the deaths by a family friend named Parvathi Mettu.

Mettu stopped accepting donations a few days in, when the GoFundMe’s balance stood at $611,996.

“We offer our deepest heartfelt gratitude to all donors with folded hands and heads,” Mettu wrote on the donation page. “With the same sincere gratitude, we bring this initiative to a close.”

The last update, Jan. 1, indicates an attorney and an accountant have been engaged to secure the donations for the surviving children, to pay for “kids education and future expenses.”

The largest donation was $2,000. A dozen people donated $1,000 or more. But the

giving that heartened me the most came from the hundreds of charitable souls who gave 10 bucks or 20 bucks anonymously.

Such small acts of kindness appear to have fallen out of fashion nowadays, when we are more riveted by celebrity and cultural influencers, political food fights and the latest Netflix serial killer documentary. I don’t say that as a scold, because I am no

see LEIBOWITZ page 11

BLUHM from Page 8

Well, it did feel like “therapy” evaluating my clothing choices.

Kondo says that regardless of when you bought an item, if you aren’t enjoying it, get rid of it. Give it away! Feel no guilt! Simply recall the pleasure it gave you when you bought it. I have a metal-

LEIBOWITZ from Page 10

less desensitized than any other member of the masses.

Some days I pore over the news mindlessly, half-reading, the words disconnected from meaning. The murders blend together, the mayhem feels like one long horror film. It’s all I can do to flip to the

lic gray handbag with long fringes that I bought with my sister-in-law because she said it looked like me. Well, I have never used it because it really looks more like Cher! Tidying up can be painful! Especially, when you see the error of your shopping ways and the money you spent (wasted) all laid out in front of you!

In Sweden, there is a kind of decluttering method called “death cleaning.” This implores people to get rid of their unwanted stuff before they die, to lighten the burden on their families. Depressing? Perhaps, but a good idea, since our kids evidently don’t want our china, collectibles and mementos. Still, I like Kondo’s concept that decluttering

is about “joy,” not kicking the bucket.

Dear readers, take the “tidying up challenge” and feel the thrill and freedom of letting go! Oh, and if anyone wants a fringed purse, just give me a call. My junk, your joy?

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a story or a comment? Contact her at judy@judybluhm.com.

comics, to Blondie, where at least Dagwood Bumstead never ages.

Every once in a while, though, people still have the capacity to surprise and to care. My heart aches for Narayana, Haritha, Gokul and kin.

But epic giving in the face of epic loss? Out of such things, we make meaning from the senseless.

How to get a letter published

E-mail: christina@timespublications.com

The Foothills Focus welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number. The Foothills Focus will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. The Foothills Focus will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not the Foothills Focus, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.

Discount up

Sweet Aya Bites’ tiger nuts snacks roar into Sprouts nationally

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

America’s pantry has welcomed LAbased brand Sweet Aya Bites’ tiger nuts snacks to its shelves.

The 2020-established brand expanded from 16 Sprouts locations in Southern California to 400 across the United States with its national launch this month. Tiger nuts, which are healthy, sustainable tubers, were introduced in the snack aisle with three flavors: sea salt, smokey BBQ and dark chocolate covered.

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opportunity.”

Sweet Aya Bites’ tiger nuts products will also be available at Clark’s Nutrition and Mother’s Market & Kitchen.

“Our focus is natural or high-end retailers to support the retail price. They tend to be more adventurous consumers, typically,” Iyawe-Parsons said.

Alongside Sweet Aya Bites’ launch, six other brands have committed to producing tiger nut-focused items. These include Ora Organic (protein powder), Bhu Foods (tiger nut spread, bars and cereal clusters), Mmmly! (cookies), Three Wishes (cereal), Pamela’s (tiger nut flour) and Grain Free Baker (brownie and cookie dough flour mixes).

Tiger nuts are tubers, which grow underground like peanuts.

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“We started talking to Sprouts last March about tiger nuts and all the cool products they can be in the market,” said Will Iyawe-Parsons, founder of Sweet Aya Bites. “Then, Sprouts went all in and asked for the brand to be involved in this launch. For us, personally, it’s a fantastic

They are highly versatile and can be produced in many different food product categories — even as an ingredient base, like oat or wheat flour — so Sweet Aya Bites has many more possible product opportunities in the future.

Sweet, nutty and full of nutrients, Iyawe-Parsons said they have up to 50% fewer calories and 75% less fat than tree nuts, with two to three times more fiber. They are also allergenic free and contain 11 vitamins and minerals.

The key difference between a tiger nut and a tree nut, however, is chewiness.

“The first bite is crunchy but then chewy, which is new for many consumers. I think its chewiness is one of its best attributes, so I wanted to highlight that in a very positive way,” Iyawe-Parsons said. “That’s why our taglines are ‘Chewy Goodness’ and ‘Chewy Delight - Bite After Bite.’”

While providing a healthy and delicious snack for consumers, tiger nuts are also generally more environmentally friendly

Will Iyawe-Parsons founded Sweet Aya Bites. (Chris Mortenson/Staff)

Body Shop raises money for St. Jude’s

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Local body shop owners, Jake Morrow, Jake Brown and Gene Boiseau, who own Maaco Tempe Auto Body, Maaco Phoenix Auto Body Deer Valley, and Maaco Phoenix Auto Body East Van Buren Street, recently held its first charity car show. The event raised over $650 for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and welcomed members of the community to check out multiple classic cars, participate in an auction and watch the show awards.

to this organization as it has directly helped families and close relatives of our employees.”

The event was attended by multiple local business owners and members of the community. A volunteer DJ presided over the event along with local vendors who supplied merchandise and gift cards for a raffle, with all proceedings donated to St. Jude. The main event consisted of a top 12 car competition complete with awards.

“It was incredible to see members of our community and team gather

NUTS From Page 12

to produce. According to Iyawe-Parsons, they require 95% less water to grow than tree nuts.

Having originated in West Africa before migrating to Egypt and Spain, tiger nuts fare best in dry, arid climates and are drought resistant. As a result, they can grow nearly anywhere in the world. Tiger nuts are not yet grown in the

United States, so Sweet Aya Bites receives all of its tubers from Spain.

“If you are looking for a brand-new snack on the market, or if you’re looking for a healthier snack — one that has less fat, less calories, is more sustainable — or just looking for a new flavor, give us a try,” Iyawe-Parsons said.

For more information about Sweet Aya Bites and tiger nut snacks, visit sweetaya. com.

This month, LA-based brand Sweet Aya Bites is launching tiger nuts products in Sprouts across the U.S. They will be introduced in the snack aisle with three flavors: sea salt, smokey BBQ and dark chocolate covered. (Chris Mortenson/Staff)

Who gets the accolades?

Afarmer collected horses, and he only needed one more breed to complete his collection. Then, one day, he found out that his neighbor had a particular breed of horse that he needed. The motivated farmer bothered his neighbor until he sold the horse to him. A month later, the horse became ill. The farmer called his veterinarian, who said, “Your horse has a virus. He must take this medicine for three days. I’ll come back on the third day, and if he’s not better, we’ll have to put him down.”

Nearby, the pig listened closely to their conversation. The farmer gave the horse the medicine. The pig approached the horse and said, “Be strong, my friend. Get up, or else they’ll put you to sleep!”

On the second day, the farmer gave the horse the medicine again. The pig approached the horse and said, “Come on, buddy, get up, or else you’re going to die! Come on. I’ll help you get up. Let’s go! One, two and three, now get up!” But the horse did not respond.

On the third day, the farmer administered the medicine again. The veterinarian then said to the farmer. “Unfortunately, we’ll have to put your horse down tomorrow. Otherwise, the virus he has might spread and infect the other horses.”

After they left, the pig approached the horse, “Listen, pal, it’s now or never! Get up, come on! Have courage! Come on! Get up! Get up! That’s it, slowly! Great! Come on, one, two and three; good, good! Now faster, come on. Fantastic! Run, run more! Yes! You did it.”

When the farmer returned, he saw the horse running in the field and began shouting, “It’s a miracle! My horse is cured. This deserves a party. Let’s kill the pig!”

Have you ever felt like that pig? You worked hard in a supporting role to accomplish a goal, and your boss gets the credit when success finally comes along. Or perhaps you invented something working for your company, but your company got the patent. Then you got fired because the company didn’t need you anymore. And who gets the accolades after a football game, the quarterback or the offensive linemen?

Learning to live without recognition is truly a humbling experience. Unfortunately, our culture focuses on the “sage on the stage” rather than the “guide by their side.” But, as you and I should know, not much happens without the contributors who make things happen. In other words, if you

see a turtle on the fence, it’s for sure the turtle had help to get there.

Here’s a true story from author John Maxwell about the behind-the-scenes people we all need to get to where we are going.

During the 1800s, a famous organist traveled from town to town across America giving concerts. It was in the days of the old pump organs, so in each town, he hired a boy to work the pump behind the organ during the concert. After a performance in one town, he couldn’t shake the young boy he’d hired.

As the organist walked towards his hotel in the cool of the evening, the boy beamed up at him. “We sure had a great concert tonight, didn’t we?” “You mean I had a great concert tonight,” replied the maestro. “You only pumped the organ. Now, go home!”

The next night, the organist gave another concert in the same town. And, once again, the boy worked the bellows behind the scenes. The opening piece of the concert was a beautiful fugue by Bach. But as the performer masterfully attacked the notes of the second piece, the music suddenly stopped, his rapid fingering bringing nothing more than a faint clicking sound from the keyboard. That’s when the little boy stuck his head around the corner of the organ, smiled, and said to the maestro, “We aren’t having a magnificent concert tonight, are we?”

Thank God for the people in our lives of significance and value, the unsung heroes, and our transportation agents, who support us but don’t get the accolades. My wife, Becky, is a perfect example. As a pastor and speaker, I receive accolades and recognition. She has a more demanding job. She puts up with me. The truth is, I may be the flamethrower, but God and Becky are the fuel. I’m telling you, Becky, and our kids, are spies sent from God to me. And they are very proficient at their assignment.

Here is a word of encouragement for you

“guides by their side.” Jesus said in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the gentle or humble, for they shall inherit the earth.” In other words, the crowd may not know who did the work, but God does. So wait until you see who gets the accolades in heaven.

Here’s your takeaway. Maybe there is a behind-the-scenes person or persons who, without any call for attention, have worked tirelessly to help you, the turtle, get on that fence. Maybe it’s your spouse, kids, staff at work, counselor, teammates, or someone else. Thank them. Give them some accolades now. But please, don’t make your transportation agents wait for sincere words of thanks and kudos until they get to heaven. If you make their day, you’ll make your day.

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy.com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

Mick Adams satisfies Rolling Stones fans

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

Mick Adams likens tribute acts to acting. In Mick Adams and The Stones, he’s playing a role — Rolling Stones’ legendary frontman Mick Jagger.

“I’m blond by nature,” the Phoenix resident said with a laugh. “So I dye my hair dark to play Mick Jagger. I also started jogging to lose about 25, 30 pounds to be more stealth-like to portray him more accurately. It’s like an acting role. If you’re a character actor, the more you do it, the more you pick up nuances, the gestures.

“Before long, I was mastering some of the moves and just diving into it.”

Besides Adams, Mick Adams and The Stones features Shane Hunter as Keith Richards, guitars and vocals; Ron Jessurun as Ron Wood, guitar, dulcimer, recorder, mandolin, and harmonica; Bill Cormier as Mick Taylor, guitar and vocals; Chad MacDonald as Bill Wyman, bass and vocals; Eric Von as Charlie Watts, drums; Tobes Mei, vocals and percussion; and Ted Belledin, keyboards, saxophone and vocals.

To hone his skills, Adams watched videos and studied Jagger’s moves. Formerly based in California, Adams’ previous Rolling Stones tribute band won $20,000 in a casino competition there, beating out 39 other well-established bands.

They had only been together for four months and hadn’t had a public show prior to the competition.

Soon thereafter, Adams put his nose to the grindstone, listened to his manager/wife, Erin O’Brien, and started his own tribute act. They wanted more of a “show” with multiple costume changes and accompanying video to bump up the production value.

“My wife created the logo, which is a registered trademark, and told me to jump up there, shake my fine white butt and she would take care of all the business,” he said. “We’ve been successful since.”

Adams said fans can expect a lot of

energy and songs as close to the Rolling Stones’ originals as possible.

“The beginnings and endings of the songs are modified, but that’s because they modified them through the years,” he said. “We follow their lead for the most part.”

They cover all the decades, as Mick

Adams and the Stones acknowledge the group’s relevance.

“They continue to be relevant,” he said. “We’ve done a couple of songs from the 2000s, like ‘Doom and Gloom’ and ‘Rough Justice.’ We have such a great catalog to pull from. The Stones have recorded roughly 550 to 575 songs

through the years. You have to play certain songs — the hits, the fan favorites.”

The authenticity continues with the vintage instruments the bands members play, including drums, “that blond natural wooden Gretch kit.”

Mick Adams as Mick Jagger, and Shane Hunter as Keith Richards in Mick Adams and the Stones, which has several shows in the area soon. (Mick Adams/ Submitted)

MICK ADAMS from page 18

“We have tellies (Telecasters) and Strats (Stratocasters) that the two guitar players use,” he said. “It’s really a lot of fun. We dress the part, act the part with the accent and stuff. It’s such fun. I have more stage clothes than regular clothes.

“This one time, we were playing a casino and the place was slammed. My wife noticed these two girls in their late twenties taking videos of the band and sending them somewhere. In between songs, my wife walked over to them and said, ‘You must really like the band.’”

One of them was one of Jagger’s Los Angeles assistants and she was sending him videos of the band. She said he sent back a thumbs-up.

Adams has met sidemen/women from the Stones, including backup singers Lisa Fischer and Bernard Fowler, and bassist Darryl Jones. He also spent some time hanging with Mick Taylor in his dressing room before introducing him onstage prior to his show.

Performing and singing is Adams’ longtime love.

Adams was also a former lead singer for Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods on and off for many years. In addition to his own show, Mick Adams and The Stones, he fronts symphony shows performing the music of The Rolling Stones all over the United States for Windborne Music.

“According to my dearly departed mother, I was singing from the time I opened my mouth pretty much,” the Ohio native said. “When I was little, in the crib, I didn’t care about TV until the commercials came on with music. Then, I’d get up and dance in my crib. My dad put the radio on in my room when I was 4. It took me two weeks to find the Black station coming out of Detroit on the radio.”

Back then, Sam Cook and Jackie Wilson ruled the airwaves and were his favorites.

“I was just a little guy,” said Adams, who was living in Monrovia, California, at the time. “My aunt and I loved to sing in the car. She was the choir director. At age 8, she asked if I wanted to go to church. I said, ‘OK.’ I was only 8 but I ended up as the only child in an alladult choir. I could read the words, but

I hadn’t had any musical training yet. I had relative perfect pitch though, even as a child.”

In high school, she played piano for the choir and was also a voice teacher. She asked him if he had ever taken voice lessons. He hadn’t because his parents couldn’t afford it at the time.

They worked out a barter agreement and they became collaborators. “She said, ‘If you come down to my house on Saturday, we’ll work out something,’” he recalled. “She lived near the arboretum in Arcadia. All throughout high school I went there every Saturday and spent a couple of hours working her rose garden and she paid me in voice lessons.”

When he graduated, he attended Citrus Junior College where he continued lessons with professor Ben Bollinger. His students included the Carpenters.

Bollinger offered Adams a tour doing light opera around Europe, but he turned it down as he was leaving on the road with a rock band.

“He was just brilliant,” he said. “It was largely in part to him and his training that I still love what I do.”

Mick Adams and the Stones

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28

WHERE: Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road

COST: Tickets start at $55

WHEN: 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5

WHERE: Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road, Suite 165, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $31; with discounts available for children, students, seniors, and members of the military and first responders.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8

WHERE: Anthem Golf and Country Club COST: Tickets start at $25

WHEN: 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, and Friday, Feb. 10

WHERE: CPAC Community Performance and Art Center, 1250 W. Continental Road, Green Valley COST: Tickets start at $25

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18

WHERE: The Venue at Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University Drive, Mesa COST: Tickets start at $20

INFO: mickadamsandthestones.com

A Help Button Should Go Where You Go!

STUDENT CHRONICLES

Know a student doing something remarkable? Tell us about it!

Email christina@timespublications.com.

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Lucas Harrison of Cave Creek made the fall 2022 dean’s list at Belmont in Nashville. “The dean’s list achievement among a majority of Belmont University’s student body exemplifies our campus commitment to exemplary education and the successful matriculation of our students,” said Belmont Provost Dr. David Gregory. ‘It is a privilege to recognize the accomplishments of our students in the academic space, and the university looks forward to the continued support, educa -

tion and growth of those who have entrusted Belmont to equip them with the necessary tools to thrive at the local, national and global level.” Dean’s list eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C. Located 2 miles from Downtown Nashville, Belmont University comprises nearly 9,000 students from every state and 33 countries. The university offers more than 115 areas of undergraduate study, 41 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees. Info: belmont.edu

Foster Home Providers Wanted

Foster Home Providers Wanted

Foster Home Providers Wanted

We are looking for caring people to welcome developmentally disabled people into their homes similar to a foster home. Homes funded by the State of Arizona, Division of Developmental Disabilities are administered by provider agencies such as ours, Consumer Advocacy Projects, Inc. (CAP). CAP was founded in 1997 and has provided services to hundreds of disabled members primarily in their group home system.

We are looking for caring people to welcome developmentally disabled people into their homes similar to a foster home. Homes funded by the State of Arizona, Division of Developmental Disabilities are administered by provider agencies such as ours, Consumer Advocacy Projects, Inc. (CAP). CAP was founded in 1997 and has provided services to hundreds of disabled members primarily in their group home system.

We are looking for caring people to welcome developmentally disabled people into their homes similar to a foster home. Homes funded by the State of Arizona, Division of Developmental Disabilities are administered by provider agencies such as ours, Consumer Advocacy Projects, Inc. (CAP). CAP was founded in 1997 and has provided services to hundreds of disabled members primarily in their group home system.

Becoming a Foster Care Provider requires several steps to become licensed as a State of Arizona approved provider. Steps include background checks, physical environment inspections and training to ensure a safe environment for the member(s). Our agency provides guidance to work through these steps with you and / or your family. Individuals or families wanting to welcome our adults into your home, should be caring, compassionate and attentive to the needs of the members.

Becoming a Foster Care Provider requires several steps to become licensed as a State of Arizona approved provider. Steps include background checks, physical environment inspections and training to ensure a safe environment for the member(s). Our agency provides guidance to work through these steps with you and / or your family. Individuals or families wanting to welcome our adults into your home, should be caring, compassionate and attentive to the needs of the members.

Becoming a Foster Care Provider requires several steps to become licensed as a State of Arizona approved provider. Steps include background checks, physical environment inspections and training to ensure a safe environment for the member(s). Our agency provides guidance to work through these steps with you and / or your family. Individuals or families wanting to welcome our adults into your home, should be caring, compassionate and attentive to the needs of the members.

If interested, please email ddfosterhomes@az-cap.com to learn more, or if you have questions or would like to initiate this exciting process.

If interested, please email ddfosterhomes@az-cap.com to learn more, or if you have questions or would like to initiate this exciting process.

If interested, please email ddfosterhomes@az-cap.com to learn more, or if you have questions or would like to initiate this exciting process.

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